Switch



Patented. Feb. 1s, 193e UNITED STATES" ,A PATE-NT OFFICE Cm KGETTGEN, F BERLIN, GEB-MANY, ASSIGNOR TO WETINGHOUSE ELECTRIC HANUFACTUBING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA SWITCH l Application led October 22, 1928, Serial No. 314,238, andan Germany October 22,1927.

' AMy invention relates to improvements in switches, and more particularly in switches in which the arc formed on o ening an electrical circuit is extinguished Iby compressed air. Y 6 There are already known switche'sin which the arc formed between the receding contacts is blown away from the point of break and thus extinguished. For this purpose a noz- -10 zie; has been located below the contacts, and' .through this nozzle the compressed air is blown against the arc. Such switches are liable to backiring, particularly 'if the nozzle consists of conducting material. The arc then strikes across to the edges of the nozzle, and thus passes out of the reach of the current of compressed air, so that the blowing action is nolonger operative.

This drawback is eliminated by my inven- 2o tion. According to my invention the movable contact itself covers in the closed position of .the contacts a bore or opening through which the compressed air is directed towardsthe point of break. Apart from this a solid in- 25` sulatin separating member is introduced between t e contacts when the switch'is opened. This insulating separating member is so formed, that the jet of air is directed towards the arc struck. If this insulating 3o separating memberis mounted on the movable contact, it extendsin the open state of the switch into the currentof compressed airv and forms a continuation of the movable contact in such a way, that the passage of the stream' of air into the extinguisher chambers takes place-without the formation of eddies or without any bathing of the air. These extinguisher chambers constructed of insulating material form a direct continuation of the point of break. The chambers or compartments may be provided with transverse walls of metal or insulating material in order to subdivide still further the arc blown into them.

In the drawin aiiixedhereto and forming part of my speci cation an embodiment oit my -invention is illustrated by way of example, as ap lied to a single-'pole switch.

Re erring to the single ligure of the drawing it will beobserved that the switch is mounted on a wall 11 and consists of a central member 12 constructed of some suitable insulating materiahsuch as porcelain, earthenware or steatite, with the extinguishing -chambers or compartments 13 located on the left of the wall 11 and the operating or control gear 14 on the right thereof. The central member 12 is provided with an axial bore 15 of uniform cross-section, the inner diameter of which corresponds with the gap between the stationary contacts 16, 17 mounted at the mouth of the central member 12. These contacts are located at the end of the bore 15 and connected through rods 1'8, 19 to the terminals mounted on insulators 20, 21. The stationary contacts 16, 17' are connected with each other by the movable contactbridge 22, when the switch is in the closed state. The mouth of the bore 15 of the central insulator 12 is tightly sealed by the movable contact bridge when the contacts are closed. On this movable bridge contact 22 is mounted between the tixed'contacts 16, 17 an insulating separating member 23, which closely adapts itself to the shape of the contact bridge 22 and extends into the bore 15 of the central insulator' 12. Through thebore l'passes the operating rod 24 of insulating material for the bridge contact 22 to the operating or control gear located on the other side of the wall.

The extinguisher compartments 13 on the left of the central insulator 12 consists of two chambers 25, 26, the walls of which are constructed oa refractory insulating material. They constitute a direct continuation of the stationary contacts 16, 17 and are mounted on the central insulator 12. At the mouths of the extinguisher chambers are located partition walls 27. The movable contact bridge 22 abuts in the oli position of the switch shown in broken lines against the connecting wall 28 of the extinguisher chambers. In this position the insulating separating member 23 forms in conjunction with the stationary contacts and the walls of` the extinguisher chambers 25, 26 a tubular passage of constantly increasing cross-section.

The operating or control gear 14 ot the switch located at the right of the central portion is grounded and consists substan- 1N! 1s not necessary,

i and the pipe 34 against inder 31 and the compressed air supply pipe 30 the advantage is obtalned, that a packing of the operating rod towards the atmosphere when the switch is closed.

For closing the switch the left-hand end of the compressed air cylinder is adapted to be put in communication with the compressed air supply pipe 30 through the pipe 34, the valve 35 and the pipe 36. That part of the cylinder, which is not in communication with thegcompressed air pipe, is in communication with the atmosphere through tlie branch 37. Whenthe switch is closed this process is reversed.

The valve 35 eiecting the necessary connections may be controlled either by hand or by a magnet in dependence of the line current or the voltage. The compressed air cylinder is closed by a cap 38 in which is housed the manual operating gear 39.

The mode or operation of my improved switch is as follows: V

When the switch is in the closed position the compressedair in the pipe 30 acts upon the insulating .separating member 23 and through the agency of the pipe 36, the valve the piston 32 of larger cross-sectional area, so that the switch remains in the on position. The contact pressure of the movable bridge contact 32 upon the stationary contacts 16, 17 maybe chosen Iat will by giving the pistona corresponding cross-section. it will bev understood, however, that this may be attained by providing an additional spring arrangement. When an overload develops, for instance, the valve 35 is operated in such a manner, that the part of the cylinder located on the left of the piston is cut oit from-the compressed air supply and is put in communication with the atmosphere by the branch or nipple 37, so that the compressed air acting on the insulating separating member 23 forces the contact bridge 22 into the position shown in broken lines. Arcs are then struckbetween the stationarycontact 16 and the movable contact bridge 22, on the one hand, and the movable contact 22 and the other stationary contact the other hand, the said arcs being blown'into the extinguisher chambers 25 and 26. By making the 4bore 15 in the central member 12 of uniform cross-section and giving the insulating'separating member 23, the contact bridge 22 and the walls of the extinguisher chambers '25, 26 a suitable shape or configurationthe compressed air may pass practically free from eddies or whirls -smoothlyrom the Abore 15 into the chambers 25, 26. rllhe partition walls 27 at the mouths l' of the chambers then subdivide the arc still further. When the switch has been opened the supply of compressed air isfinterrupted in known manner, for instance in dependence of the extinguishing of the arc.

For closing the switch the valve 35 is controlled in such a manner, that it puts the portion of the cylinder on the left of the piston again in communication with the compressed air supply pipe 30 and the portion ofthe cylinder on the right of the piston in communication with the atmosphere, so that the piston is moved towards the right and forces the movable contact bridge 22 against the stationary contac ts 16, 17 by the aid of the operating rod 24.

The central insulator 12 of the switch may by means of a suitable packing 40 be mounted on the flanged end of the compressed air supplytube 30, which in the embodiment illustrated, is 4inserted into the wall 11 and supports the entire switch.

instead of the movable bridge contact 22 shown as solid block, brushes with arcing tips may Abe employed for larger interrupting capacities ot the switch. In the case of higher voltages a plurality of break points may in customary manner be connected in series and speclal extinguishing chambers be provided for each of the breaks. An ordinary. airbreak'switch may be connected in parallel with my improved switch, and its contacts be first separated from each other when the circuit is interrupted, the opening of the circuit b means of my improved compressed air switchtaking place then only.

1t' will be `understood that instead of compressed air any other suitable gas under pressure may be employed.

Various other changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit andthe scope of the invention, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: Y 1. In a switch of the type in which the arc isextinguished by compressed air, in combination, a stationary member ofA insulating' material provided with a central bore, stationary contacts located at the mouth of said bore, a rod traversing said bore, and a movable Contact bridge mounted on said rod adapted to close the contact with said sta*- tionary contacts by operating said rod, said contact bridge in its closed state adapted to 1socal the central bore in said stationary memer. 2.1.11 a switch of the type in which the arc 1s extinguished by compressed air, in combination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore, sta-4 tionary contacts located 'atthe mouth of said bore, a rod traversing said bore, and a moviframes able contact brid e mounted on said rod `adapted to close t e contact with said'stai tionary contacts by operating' said rod, an insulating separating member forming an eX- tension oi'said contact bridge and adapted to extend into the bore of said stationary member in the closed state of the switch, and means adapted to brin said. contact bridge by means of compresse air into the 'two end positions.

3. ln a switch of the type in which the arc is extinguished by compressed air, in combination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore stationary contacts located at the mouth oi said bore, a rod traversing said bore, and a movable contact bridge mounted on said rod adapted to close the contact with said stationary contacts by operating said rod, a pipe branch connected to the inner end of the bore of saidstationary member and adaplted to conduct compressed air through'said ore to said contact bridge,.an insulating separating member forming a continuation of said bridge contact and adapted to extend in the closed position of the switch into the bore of the stationary member and having a shape tapering towards the interior of the bore adapted to conduct the compressed air without eddies and continuously past the stationary contacts towards the outside, and means iormoving the contact bridge into the opening and-closing position.

1i. ln a switch of the type in which the arc is extinguished by compressed air, in combination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore, stationary contacts located at the mouth of said bore, extinguishing chambers forming a direct continuation of the stationary insulatatthe side of said contacts, transverse partition wallslocated in Said extinguishing chambersand adaptedto subdivide the arc developing in said chambers, and operating gear located at the end of said stationaryinsulating member facing away from said stationary contacts adapted to move said contact brid e. f

tln a switch of the type in which the arc is extinguished by compressed air, 1n combination, 'a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore'.- stationary contacts located at the mouth or.

said bore, a movable contactl bridge, extinf gushing chambers forming a direct continuation of said stationary insulating member at the -side of said contacts,.operating.gear located at the end of 'said lating member facing away from said stationary contacts, a compressed air piston in said control gear mounted on the rod carrying said bridgeqcontact and moving in a compressed air cylinder adapted to move said' bridge contact into the opening and'closing position. Y

7.- .ln a switclio the type in which the arc is extinguished by'compressed air, in com# bination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore, stationary contacts located at the mouth of said re, and a movable contact-bridging member adapted to engage said stationary contacts and tov substantially seal the central.

bore.

8. ln a switch of the type in which the arc is extinguished by compressed air, in combination, a stationary member oi insulating material provided with a central bore, stationary contacts-.located at the mouth of said bore, a movable contact bridgingb said stationary contacts, an insulating directingmember associated with said movable contact,

and means for supplying air to said bore. A

` 9, a switch oi the type in which the are is Yextinguished by Acompressed air, in combination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore stationary contacts located at the mouth oi said bore, a movable contact adapted to engage the said stationary contacts means adapted to conduct air through said bore to said con'- tacts, an insulating deiecting membertassostationary insuciated with said movable contact and means for actuating said movable contact.

10. ln a switch of the type in which the arc is extinguished by compressed air, in. combination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore,

stationary contacts disposed at the mouthl of said bore, an extinguishing chamber a'ssocited with said insulating member adjacent to the stationary contacts, a conducting bridging member ada ted to engage said stationary contacts an means for actuating said bridging member to engaged and disengaged osition.

' E20 il. n a switch of the type inwhich the arc t isextinguished by compressed air, in combination, a stationary member of insulating material provided with a central bore sta'V tionary contacts located at the mouth oi said bore, a movable contact member, an extinguishing chamber associated with said insulating member adjacent said contacts, transverse partitions located in said extin chamber adapted to subdivide said chambe I. -Y l memes and opexatimg gee? adapted to ecbusbe said vmovable comect member.

12. En e, switch o tbe type in whi tbe asc isexnguisbed by compeessed efc, in comn bnetion, a. stationery ember of insuebing materiel Drovided with e central bolres stetionei'y contacts loceteol et bhe mouth of se bore, e movable contact member adapted bo bridge seid stetiomexy contactsa en exbim o goishimg chamber associated with seidv com tects, operating geen? for seid movable conmet member, and sie actuated meses/for moving seid operating gear.

In testimony whereof, E beve bereumbo seb- '15 scribed my meme this 8th deyo @czobefs @ARL Koefs'reem.

SGT 

